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JR Smith? I wouldn't mind this if the rumors are correct but I still would love us to tank and develope Sanders and Henson and whoever we draft...win 20 games and draft Wiggins. With JR Smith and maybe Josh Smith we become a clear playoff team, but again losing to Miami shouldn't be our goal.

_______My buddy Chris Broussard at ESPN with answers to questions that bother us so....---

The Milwaukee Bucks have "strong" interest in the New York Knicks' J.R. Smith and also want to make an offer to his teammate Chris Copeland, two league sources confirmed to ESPN.com.

The Bucks will be entering free agency with their starting backcourt, Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis, testing free agency. But they also have leverage because they are under the cap, unlike the Knicks, and they can outbid for the services of Smith and Copeland.

The most Smith can make in New York is $5.58 million with early Bird rights. He declined his player option of $2.9 million earlier this month, making him an unrestricted free agent. For Copeland, who is now a restricted free agent because the Knicks extended an qualifying offer to him on Tuesday, the highest amount he could receive is $3.18 million -- the Knicks' mini mid-level exception.

According to one league source, several other suitors will make pitches for Smith and Copeland. Smith has received early interest from the Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns, and Copeland's list includes the Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards.

Both Smith and Copeland have expressed a burning desire to stay in New York. After the season, Smith said, "I want to retire a Knick. I don't want to go anywhere else." And Copeland said, "I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be."---

That last paragraph is all I need to read. While we all know money speaks, and it seems both could make more elsewhere, that "attitude" thing I refer too often will rear its head at some point.

Management simply must remind themselves,..... "what did we learn from the -Yi- thing?***

{Rural}...from the previous thread you had asked about my interest in acquiring a 'big' as of late, and did I have anyone in mind?

The thought was prompted by a couple of things. I've mentioned before that as Iponder those left on the board after -15- in many mock drafts I simply wonder what that Seven footer would look like, what that PF would look like, and what about an offensive oriented Big who can 'make his own shot'.?

Besides a SG this team needs, imo, to bring some moxie, and attitude to the paint.Someone to help / assist / play with, or in tandem with Larry Sanders. What has this team learned from letting Bogut run the center -by himself- andwhat were the results of that choice.

No...to answer your question. I don't have anyone in particular in mind.Again, not a big college watching guy so I'm left with resources, andweb cites to educate. But again partner...there just seems to me to be many a big guy(s) available.

And, if the best Gardner has is a six foot point guard (no disrespect meantto Larkin) then, lets cast that net out again, and see what Center or forward might just look like in his place?

Sure seems to me both guard positions seem a bit easier to fill by other ways.Why not think big at -15.

I understand the size regret on guards, especially Larkin. However I only really see Olynyk as a talented offense big, but defensively and aggressively deficient. Gobert is so big he's clumsy(Thabeet V 2.0), Dieng is D oriented (and frankly the only big I'd be okay with at 15). Maybe, just maybe you take that Steven Adams kid and hope he has a third year turnaround like Sanders did. I mean 7 feet 255lbs, turns 20 in July, good lord.

I want another option, another pick, to lessen the importance of just one pick in the first.

Double down on high risk high reward guys. This is my early summer Christmas eve, I'm reading hoopshype and am overwhelmed by the influx of rumored "information".

Dieng has shown up on Mock Drafts at 15. You seem to have a better feel for some of the talent base of these kids.

And if they go with an SG or PG that's OK...then, come JULY 1 whenthe FA Market opens up Johnnie had better have some thoughts ongetting help for Larry. I just don't want him out there without some help,and put in a place where his minutes begin to become an issue becauseonce again, we have a center with no quality back up....>

When a team experiences the dread of the _YI_ and _Bogut_scenarios and not learn from it, but, continue to make the samebad choices.....well_________! (Waterdog will be along shortly to finish the thought....Dog>>>?)

I know he is 28 and was playing alongside Duncan, but Tiago Splitter is a restricted free agent. If the Jefferson deal does not work out, Tiago could be a guy Hammond takes a look at to pair up with Sanders. I like him more than I liked Asik when he was a free agent last season.

The Bucks could take a gamble on one of the many bigs projected in their part of the draft, but it better be for a center and not another power forward. Unless we are getting rid of Ersan, Gooden and Moute. I project the Bucks to get a guard or wing player.

....then this: "If you do look at our roster, the center spot and power forward spot, it's probably not a real logical position for us to choose someone in the draft at that position," Hammond said.

"But if it's the best player, we'll do what's the right thing to do for us long term."---Thank you Johnnie. A perfect example of the double talk politico who's on firstwhat's on second approach to communication.

So. We're going to take care of the unsettled back court. And.Its not logical to pick a center or forward as the roster is set there. But.If the best player available is a center or forward why______?---And, I thought Herbie wanted to 'win now"..."Long Term"....what?

Hey Charles!!!Is this going to be a live 'interactive' bLog so all the bLognazatti can vent when tRader John either trades down, trades up or stays pat and takes another pewee point guard in Shane Larkin?

I've read my weight in mock drafts and in most the same 13 guys minus Shabazz or McCollum go off the board ahead of us. There will likely be at least one surprise- but my prediction is that Shabazz drops and (ugh) we take him. What fun nickname can we give him?

I'm hoping for Pope, Crabbe, Karasev or Muhammad at 15. Pope and Muhammad will probably be gone. 2nd round I'm hoping Ennis drops to us. I know you don't like Muhammed, but he could be the scorer this team needs. Ennis could be the steal of the draft.

I'd rather trade this pick for an extra 1st next year, JUST A THOUGHT heard NETS are looking for a 1st for marshon brooks so I'd OFFER ish and 15 for brooks and 22...and draft Reggie bullock out of UNC...and to top off this cake trade ersan and BJ for RONDO.